57 3100 rearend choice

[pete57]

I have a 57 3100 im working on. Ive got my mustang II front from speedway, now I need to get my rearend. Friend of mine has a 79 firebird rear and a 89 iroc Camaro rear both drum breaks. 79 is a little longer than factory 57 and 89 is a little shorter. is one better than the other for transplant? Is there an advantage to running a little longer or shorter? Ill be running 8in vette rallys on all 4 corners and leafspring rear. Thanks..

[G&R's57GMC]

Get the shorter one

[dubie]

i have a shorter one out of a 65 Chevelle and have 8" vette rally's on the back. The rear is 2" narrower than the stock one and I ended up cutting for a small tub because of it. I have a 255 60 R 15 on the back right now but now that it's getting tubbed, I'll put the 275 60's back on

[_Ogre]

i run an 86 trans am rearend, which is the same gen III as the 89, 82-92 are similar/same
with the exception of the trans am had disc brakes
look at my build link in my signature, i flipped the axle on top of stock springs
8'' rims on back with 4 in back space. i'd rub if i had a wider rearend

[pete57]

Thanks guys. Ill be going with the iroc rear. I thought I may have clearance problems with the longer rear and 8in wheels.
Ogre, did you have to notch your frame to flip your rear, im wanting mine to sit about like yours.

[thotfulspot]

Delmo has pictures of a '57 truck in a Porterbuilt dropmember thread on Porterbuilt's website. I asked him and the rear end he uses is 59" from wheel mounting surface to wheel mounting surface. I'm not sure what the back spacing is on the wheels he make so that will affect it.
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[_Ogre]

truk has a 3'' c-notch
if i had to do it again i'd do a 5'' c-notch
i didn't want to raise the bed floor
lots of pics in my build thread



if can get the torque arm with the 89 rearend i'd get it and use it

[SCHRUMGMC]

Im not sure what I'd do with my 59 GMC

[wick22]

my 57 has a 65 chevy truck rearend in it with 15*8 wheels with a 275/60/15 28" tire and it works great

[SCHRUMGMC]

Why swap Re-ends ?

[thotfulspot]

I need a stronger rear end for towing and to handle the extra horsepower of my engine swap.
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[SCHRUMGMC]

That is true, Did not think about that

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by SCHRUMGMC

Why swap Re-ends ?

highway gear, posi, upgraded brakes
truk gets 20 mpg with a 350 in it